True Blue Kentucky

Kentucky heads to Athens tonight to defend their newly number 1 ranking as the Cats and Dawgs do battle on ESPN.  Let's take a look at what the Cats can expect on their trip to Georgia.

Series History

Kentucky holds a 113-25 advantage over Georgia.  The Bulldogs, however,  won the last meeting in Athens 77-70.

2011-2012 Season

The Bulldogs have a record of 10-9 (1-4).  Their best win on the season came last week against Tennessee.  They have losses against California, Xavier, Alabama, and Cincinnatti.

Players to Watch

1. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - The 6'4"  freshman leads Georgia in scoring at 14.7 points a game.  He is a 32.6% shooter from three, 63.2% shooter from the free throw line, and pulls down 5.1 rebounds per game.

2. Gerald Robinson - The senior averages 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.  He shoots 30.8% from three and 79.1% from the line.

Here are the latest projections of what the inside of a renovated Rupp Arena and the adjoining concourse could look like upon completion. These pictures were recently released at a Lexington City Council meeting.

Alabama will head in to Rupp Saturday to take on the Cats at noon.  UK will look to extend their nation's leading home winning streak to 47 with a win over the Crimson Tide.  Here is the preview of Alabama.

Series History

Kentucky holds a 101-36 win advantage over the Crimson Tide.  The Cats won the last meeting during last year's SEC Tournament 72-58.  UK has won the last 6 out of 7 against Alabama.

2011-2012 Season

Alabama comes into Rupp on a 2 game losing streak.  They post a record of 13-5 (2-2).  The Tide has some decent wins over VCU, Maryland, Purdue, and Georgia.  Some of their losses include Kansas State, Georgetown, Mississippi State, and Dayton.  They also lost at home last night to Vandy.  Vandy's hot shooting put the Tide in an early hole that they could not climb out of.

Players to Watch

1. JaMychal Green - Alabama is led by their 6'8" forward in Green.  He averages 13.7 points  and 6.7 rebounds a game.  Also he shoots 53.8% from the field and 71.6% from the line.  Green is as physical of a player that there is in the SEC.

2. Tony Mitchell -  Not to be out done by his inside counter part, Tony Mitchell averages 13.7 points and leads Bama in rebounding at 7.4 a game.   He is a 30.8% three point shooter and shoots 60.0% from the line.

40 minutes of Hell is back as Mike Anderson's Arkansas Razorbacks invade Rupp Arena tonight for some prime time action.  The Cats and Hawgs tip off tonight at 9:00 pm EST on ESPN.  Let's take a look at are vistors from Arkansas.

Series History

Kentucky holds a 24-8 record against Arkansas.  The Cats have won 10 out of the last 11 against the Hawgs.  Arkansas last win against UK came last season in Fayetteville in OT 77-76.  Kentucky did however dismantle Arkansas 101-70 the last time they played at Rupp.

2011-2012 Season

Arkansas enters tonight's matchup with at 13-4 (2-1) record.  They have played some quality teams in UConn, Oklahoma, and Mississippi State.  The Razorbacks best win so far this season was against Mississippi State.  It should be noted that Arkansas has not won a game on the road this season.

Players to Watch

* Game note* Arkansas leading scorer Marshawn Powell is out for the season with a knee injury.

1. B.J. Young - The freshman guard averages 15.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.  He shoots 43.8% from three and 71.4% from the line.

2. Mardacus Wade - The 6'2" guard averages 11.0 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.  He shoots 49.3% from three and 78.7% from the line.

The Cats begin a two game road trip tonight as they travel to Auburn to take on the Tigers.  Game time is set for 8:00 pm EST.  Let's take a look at the Tigers so far in the 2011-2012 season

Series History

UK holds an 85-17 series lead over Auburn.  The Cats have won 12 in a row in the series and 26 out  of 27 games against the Tigers.  Auburn's last win, oddly enough, happened 12 years ago today when Chris Porter led the Tigers to a 66-63 victory.

2011-2012 Season

Auburn comes into tonight's game with a record of 10-5 (0-1),  They have been blown out in their last two games by Florida St (29 points) and Vanderbilt (30 points).  Their best win of the season came against South Floirda.

Players to Watch

1. Kenny Gabriel - The 6'8" forward leads Auburn in scoring and rebounding with 11.9 and 7.8 per game.  Gaberiel is a 38.1% three point shooter and shoots 65.7% from the line.

2. Frankie Sullivan - The 6'11" guard averages 11.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.  He shoots 37.0% from three and 65.9% from the foul line.

3. Chris Denson - The sophomore guard averages 10.7 points a game.  He is a 38.5% three point shooter and shoots 71.4% from the line.

Kentucky enters into the second part of their season after a 73-51 win against a game UALR squad Tuesday night.  The Cats stand as the SEC favorite with a record of 14-1 heading in to conference play.

UK has had a lot of highs this season.  I mean it is always good when you can say that you beat Kansas, North Carolina, and Louisville in a season.  Besides a bad showing at IU, in which the Cats still a had shot to win, the Cats look prime to make a special run.

Yet there are some who feel like that Kentucky still has to work to do.  Well yeah, this is still halfway through the season.  Now is not the time to peak.  You want to peak going into March, not going into January.  Coach Cal has stated that they are not as far along as they should be, but if anyone can get them up to speed, Cal can.

Kentucky is though dominating in a couple areas even with all the work they have to do.  One in particular is that the Cats are dominating the glass.  In Jerry Tipton's article for Kentuckysports.com, he talks about the Cats play on the boards.  Here are some excerpts.

It may not be the MVP award, but Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was honored today with the SEC Player of the Week.  Michael broke his career high twice this week in scoring with 18 against Lamar and 24 against Louisville.  He also broke his career high in rebounding with 19 against Louisville.

Anthony Davis also received the freshman of the week honor from the SEC.  Like Kidd-Gilchrist, Davis was a game changer in Saturday's rivalry game versus UL.  Davis leads the nation in block shots and is considered by many as the odds on favorite to be the number one over all pick in the 2012 NBA draft.

You can read about the duo's honor  by clicking here to go the SEC website, or just by reading the entire press release below.  Congrats guys and keep up the hard work.

Kentucky’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a 6-foot-7, 232-pound freshman guard from Somerdale, N.J., was named SEC Player of the Week after averaging 21.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in wins over Lamar and fourth-ranked Louisville. Kidd-Gilchrist followed his career-high 18-point night against Lamar with a career-game against intrastate rival Louisville, where he posted his second career double-double with career highs in points (24) and rebounds (19). For his efforts against UofL, he was named the game’s MVP by the Bluegrass Sports Commission. His 19 rebounds was a UK-UofL series record.

Click "Read More" to read about Anthony Davis.

ESPN's Eamonn Brennan has a nice recap from UK's victory over the Dirty Cards on Saturday in what he deemed "College hoops' Iron Bowl."  Brennan focused his article on Kentucky's fearless leader, the one Kentucky fans call "MKG."

But it's MKG's unique blend of ability and leadership, of the tangible and the undefinable, that saw this team through its ugliest offensive performance of the season and in the most intenese, scrutinized game it will play until March.  If this team becomes what it wants to be -- national champions or bust -- that combination will be why.

"This team is special," Kidd-Gilchrist said, sitting in that chair, surrounded by curious reporters asking some version of the same question -- why? -- again and again.  "We know what we have here.  We're hungry.  If you're a leader, you care about your teammates more than yourself.

"So I'm going to play my heart out.  That's what I'm going to give.  My heart."

The article has more quotes from MKG, Pitino, and Calipari about the game.  Also, one stat Brennan noted that stands out is that Kentucky is only the fourth team in the past ten years to shoot less than 30% from the field, commit 20-plus turnovers, AND still win the game.

Click here to read Brennan's article, and remember...an ugly win is ALWAYS better than an ugly loss.